Undergarment



Nov. 28, 1944.

G. H. CROCKER UNDERGARMENT Filed Dec. 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l l yENToR 6L YN H [ROCKER ATTORNEY G. H CROCKER Nov. 28, I944.

UNDERGARMENT Fi l ed Dec. 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet" INVENTQR, GLYN H. C'R'OCKEA ATTORNEYL description; serve; .to. expla" ,ment of the invention Patented No 28, 1944 JS S PATENT when e 1 it l e .QUNDERGARMEN'I 1 lGlYIl uCriocker, Cortland, N. Y, assignori t o J. C.

p Application ece ber 10, l942,.Serial m mas The present invention relates to undergarments and more: particularly toaladies; undergarments such as foundationtgarments; corsetsmorselettes and girdles. J 1

The

structions, arrangements,combinations; andz-improvementsherein shown anddescribeidn The accompanying drawings; referred to herein and constituting; a part hereof illustrate oneembodiment ofxthe inventiom the; principles of the invention. i l i It. is an object. ofztheprese'nt invention to. provide a ladies. undergarment which isadapted to control thefigure as. a foundation for outer clothing and Whichisof simple and lightweight connd: together, with the struction and may be easilylrmanufactured. A

further objectof the: invention-is the provision ofsucha garment which willstandup under long.weariwithoutbeccming deformed, and useless in its function as a foundationbandl does not require the use of largeamounts of elastic in its 30,.

construction: Still another object isto provide a foundation garmenthaving adequate, oomfort able and healthful meansfor restraining and controlling the abdominal region of theiwearer of the garment. l

Of the drawings:

Fig.1 is a front elevation of anundergarment embodying the present invention, showing the garment in placeuponthelwearer; I i p Fig 2 is a view of the undergarment. shown in l Fig. 1 offof the wearer andshowing the insideof the garment;

Fig, 3cisafront elevation: of anotherembodiof thegarment. l

is provided in an illustrative embodiment .of the present invention a foundation garment of the girdle type having bodyencircling elements in a shown in place upon the "45 vention shown in Fig. *3 and showing the inside i ment generally comprise frontanduback panels which are of: fabric, and relatively inelasticrma terial, and elastic ,side, .panelsyjoin-ing:lthev front and back panels,; withaclosure: means gbe-ing pro- .vided :at one .sidewfon fastening. l the {garment in placeupon-the wearenv Y y p 1' Reinforcing. means are providede at;. the front =0]? l the fgarmenttto overlie; the (abdomen; 0f .1 the wearer and f rmly and comfortablyl restrain the same. These means comprise a media-nibandnor tape 1 which is :vertically .andr centrally; disposed at the: inside :Qf the: front panel. ofz the girdlefiat a position tolie acrbss-theabdomen of: the'wearer when the garment is 'puton; andthis band is; not 9 sewn or; attached .at any place-along; itsllengt h t0 thewpanelw Three side bands DErItQIDQSfiBI'EwPBGX- being} otherwise ;unattached-theretoa The side bandsateither sideofthe median band are. positioned side by sideand parallel with-,ea ohother, u-andflare preferably relativelyclose together; 3 Afipair ofglower-bandshorzitapes earmprovided 1 one secured at its endto Leachofthelowermost side.bandsrelatively-close,to the, inner end of these sidel bands; and theothen'or lower ends-of eachof these bands is secured :to-tthellowerledge f of; the; fr,ont panel These lowerrbandslare angu larly, disposed; extending gdownwardlyq and-l out-{- wardlywfromr. gthey-lowermost" side lbands forming substantiallyzfa ninety. degree angle. where they .aresecuredthereto.

1 Another illustrative embodiment of the present @invention comprises, a corselette-p orall-in-one type offgarment having an integralbrassiere portion; Atithe insidaof. thefront panel-of the gar- .ment there is providedfia vertically and eentrally disposed median band. which extends the; length of the front .panel andfis secured at its upper-and lower endst'ovthe Iupper. and, lower edges. respeo- .tivel-y of E the panel, being. otherwise, unsecured theret'o. Threeangularly'. disposed side bands are provided at eithersidelof the median band as l alreadyfldescribd a ove inj.Connectio'n.fwitliithe With the stated andother objects in view, there I first illustrative embodiment.

description and the followingdetaileddescription i as well areexemplar'y and explana'toryoftlie irrgenerally customary form, the garment covering l the body of'the wearer from a'position just below the ribs down over the hips and. the upper'le'g region The bodyencircling elementsof the garvention butare not-restrictive thereof. l

three individual panels I8, I9, 26 sewn together along their adjacent edges, and the central panel I9 is likewise preferably of two or more thicknesses of fabric to provide additional reinforcement at the back of the garment.

The side panel -I2 may comprise individual panels 22 and 23, the former being of fabric and the latter of preferably elastic material. The side panel I3 comprises individual panel 24 of fabric and an elastic panel 25, the former being provided with a plurality of eyes 26 with which the hooks 2l on panel I5 are engageable to fasten the garment about the wearer.

-A triangularly shaped elastic insert 28 maybe provided'in panel I6 at the front of the garment toinsure the fit about the hips of the wearer,

while another triangularly shaped elastic insert 29 is provided in panel I9 at the back of the garment to make the girdle fit snugly and neatly about the waist. V Auxiliary reinforcing means are provided at the inner side of the front panel I to lie across the abdomen of the wearer, and these means comprise a median band 35 which is centrally and vertically disposed of the front panel. Relatively broadside bands 36, 31, 38 are securely stitched at: their ends to median band 35, and at the other ends to the outer edge of front panel II], that is, 'at the place where panel I! is sewn to panel 22.

I Other side bands 40, 4I 42 are stitched at their ends to median band 35 at its other side and at their other ends to the edge of panel ID, that is, to the edge of panel I along which the hooks 2! are positioned.

The median and side bands are preferably fashioned of relatively unstretchable material, fjand are unsecured to the front panel II] of the girdle except at the outer ends of the side tapes,

as has been described. The three side bands at either side of the median band are positioned relatively closely together so that there is no substantial space between their adjacent edges.

Lower "bands 45 and 46 are provided to anchor the abdomenres'training construction already described to the lower portion of the garment. As shown, these are securely stitched to the lower edges of the lowermost side bands 38 and 42 at positions relatively close to the median band 35,

and form substantially 90 degree angles with said side bands. At their lower ends the lower bands 45 and 46 are stitched to the lower edge of the foundation garment may comprise body encircling elements of a generally customary design.

There is provided a front panel 5|], a back panel ,5I, side panels 52 and 53, and a brassiere portion 56 stitched to the upperedge of the front panel and to side panel 52. Eyes 54 are provided along the edge of side panel 53 to engage hooks 55 arranged along the edge of front panel 50 andbrassiere portion 56 in fastening the garment in place upon the wearer.

The front panel 50 may comprise three individualpanels 51, 5B and 59, the central panel 58 being preferably fashioned of two ply of material for reinforced strength in its position over the abdomen of the wearer. The back panel 5I is likewise fashioned of three individualpanels 60, BI and 62, the central panel 6I- similarly being of two plys for reinforcement over the back of'the wearer. Triangular shaped elastic inserts 63 are provided at the lower edge of front panel 56 be-' tween central panel 58 and panels 51 and 59, and

' tioned at the inside of the front panel 50. As

shown, these means comprise a vertically and centrally disposed median band or tape I0 which is secured at its ends to the upper and lower edges of frontpanel 50. Three side bands II, 12 and 13 are angularly disposed at one side of median band 10, stitched at their ends to the median band and at their other ends to the edge of front panel 50 adjacent side panel 52. Three other side bands 14, I5 and I6 are provided at the other side of median band I0 and have their ends stitched to the median band and to the edge of front panel 50.along which the hooks 55 are spaced.

The several panels of the embodiments of the invention herein shown and described are preferably of relatively inelastic material in order to restrain the figure of the wearer and provide a foundation for clothing to be worn over the garments, except those panels and inserts which'have been described as of elastic material. These latter serve to position the garments firmly on the wearer, modeling the figure of the wearer along desired lines and insuring the fit of the garments.

The several bands of the auxiliary abdomen restraining means herein shown and described for the embodiments" of the present invention are preferably of strong and unstretchable material in orderto provide a firm and unyielding restraint I over that portion of the body of the wearer, It

will be noted that the abdomen restraining means provide a substantially continuous panel of strong material ove'r'the abdomen to reinforce the front panel of the garments, but is relatively flexible to comfortably accommodate the movements of the wearer, dueto its formation of several bands of material. The restraining bands are not stitched to the front panel at any place where the latter overlies the abdomen of thewearer but only at the edges of the panel, which further insures the comfort of the wearer in the whole garment and a firm restraint over the abdomen.

The angularly upwardly and outwardly extending positioning of the side bands provides a healthful and comfortable support for the abdomen while restraining it within desired bounds. Any sidewise stretching of the garments tends to increase the restraint, thus insuring the effectiveness and long useful life of the garment. The auxiliary means for restraining the abdomen pro vides a firmer and more healthful support for the abdominal muscles than'i the case with elastic, while allowing at the same time for the freedom and comfort of the wearer.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the inat each side of the median band and extending respectively outwardly and upwardly at an angle in opposite directions between the opposite side v edges of the median band and the opposite side edges of the panel, each set of side bands being similar to but independent of the other set and comprising a plurality of bands arranged one above the other, the side bands of'the respective sets being secured at their inner ends to the median band and at their outer ends to the opposite side edges of the panel, said side bands be ing otherwise free from connection with the panel and said median band being free from connection with the panel at the points of attachment of the side bands therewith.

2. A foundation garment comprising, in combination, a front panel to overlie the frontof the wearer, and auxiliary abdomen restraining means on the inside of the panel to overlie the abdomen "of the wearer and unsecured to the panel at its abdomencovering portion, said means comprising a relatively inelastic median band centrally and vertically disposed of said panel, and a set bands being otherwise free from connection with the panel and said median band being free from connection with the panel at the points of attachment of the side bands therewith, the said auxiliary abdomen restraining means including a com nection between the bands and the panel to hold the bands from displacement in at least one direction vertically thereof. i

3. A foundation garment comprising, in combination a front panel to overlie the front of the wearer, and auxiliary abdomen restraining means on the inside of the panel to overlie the abdomen of the wearer said means being unsecured to the panel at its abdomen covering portion, said means comprising a median band centrally and vertically disposed of said panel so as to overlie the abdomen of the wearer, said band being unsecured to the panel, a plurality of angularly disposed side bands at either side of said median band each secured at one end to said medianband and extending outwardly and upwardly across Said panel so as to overlie the abdomen of the wearer and secured at its other end to said panel at a lateral edge thereof said side bands at either side of said median band being parallel to each other and disposed side by side, and a pairof lower bands one secured to the lowest side band at either side of the median band and angularly disposed extending downwardly and outwardly and secured to the panel adjacent the lower edge thereof.

4. A foundation garment comprising, in com bination. a front panel to overlie the front of the wearer, and auxiliary abdomen restraining means of side bands arranged mainly above ,the hori-,

zontal transverse center of the panel at each side, of the median band and extending respectively outwardly and upwardly at an angle in opposite directions between the opposite side edges of the median band and the opposite side edges of the panel, each set of side bands being similar to but independent of the other set and comprising a plurality of relatively inelastic bandsarranged one above the other in parallel relation side by side and substantially in edge to edge relation with each other, the inner endsof the side bands of the respective sets being secured at their inner ends to the median band and at their outer ends to the opposite side edges of the panel, said side on the inside of the panel to overlie the abdomen of the wearer said means being unsecured to the panel at its abdomen covering portion, said means l comprising a medianband vertically and centrally disposed so as to overlie the abdomen of the wearer and secured to the panel at the upper and lower edge thereof and being otherwise unsecured thereto, and a plurality of angularly disposed side bands at either side of said median band each secured at oneend to saidmedian band and extending outwardly and upwardly across the panel so as to overlie the abdomen of the wearer and secured at its other end to said panel at a lateral edge thereof said side bands at either side of said median band being parallel to each other and disposed side by side.

GLYN H.. CROCKER. 

